New Guinea Impatiens plant named `Duepetrest`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of New Guinea Impatiens plant named `Duepetrest`, characterized by its soft red and light lavender bi-colored petal color; floriferousness; dense and bushy plant habit; freely and basally branching plant habit; and dark green non-variegated foliage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of NewGuinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, andhereinafter referred to by the name `Duepetrest`. The new variety ismarketed under the trade name Red Fox Petticoat Red Star.

The new variety is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram is to develop New Guinea Impatiens that are freely branching;compact; early flowering; and that have desirable flower and leafcolors.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the Inventor of twounidentified proprietary New Guinea Impatiens seedling selections.

`Duepetrest` was discovered and selected in 1994 by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in acontrolled environment in Rheinberg, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by terminal cuttings taken atRheinberg, Germany, has shown that the unique features of this newvariety are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Duepetrest`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Duepetrest` as a new and distinct variety:

1. Soft red and light lavender bi-colored petal color.

2. Freely flowering.

3. Dense and bushy plant habit.

4. Freely and basally branching plant habit.

5. Dark green non-variegated foliage.

The new variety can be compared to the commercial cultivar `Pago Pago`(disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,143). However, in side-by-sidecomparisons conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany, plants ofthe new variety are much more compact and have more incised flowerpetals. In addition, petals of plants of the new New Guinea Impatienshave a more pink red central stripe whereas petals of plants of thecultivar `Pago Pago` have a more orange red stripe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new variety, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographcomprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of `Duepetrest`.Flower and foliage colors may appear different from the actual colorsdue to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of `Duepetrest` have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingobservations and measurements describe plants grown in 12-cm containersduring the spring in Rheinberg, Germany, under commercial practice in aglass-covered greenhouse with day temperatures about 22° C., nighttemperatures about 18° C. and light levels about 42.5 thousand lux.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri `Duepetrest`.

Parentage:

Male, or pollen, parent.--Unidentified proprietary Impatiens hawkeriseedling selection.

Female, or seed, parent.--Unidentified proprietary Impatiens hawkeriseedling selection.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--Summer: About 10 days at 22° C. Winter: About12 days at 22° C.

Time to develop roots.--Summer: About 21 days at 22° C. Winter: About 26days at 22° C.

Rooting habit.--Fine, freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.--Rounded; compact; full, dense and bushy; veryfreely and basally branching; upright and spreading; moderate growthrate; suitable for 10 to 15-cm pots.

Plant height.--About 15.5 cm from soil level to top of plant plane.

Lateral branches.--Quantity: About 17. Length: About 13.4 cm. Diameter:About 5.1 mm. Internode length: About 3.75 cm. Color: 138A.

Foliage description.--Quantity of leaves per lateral branch: About 26.Shape: Elliptic with acuminate tip and attenuate base. Length: About 11cm. Width: About 4 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Margin: Serrulate.Color: Young foliage, upper surface: 139A. Young foliage, lower surface:59A. Mature foliage, upper surface: 139A. Mature foliage, lower surface:59A. Veins, mature foliage, upper surface: 59B. Veins, mature foliage,lower surface: 136A. Petiole: Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 2.9mm. Color: 133C.

Flower description:

Flowering habit.--Freely flowering. Flowers not persistent.

Natural flowering season.--Year-round. Plants flower about 8 weeks afterplanting. Flowers typically last less than one week depending onenvironmental and cultural conditions.

Flowers borne.--Flower buds develop in apical leaf axils. Open flowersare displayed above the foliage.

Quantity of inflorescences.--Freely flowering, usually about 100 flowerbuds and open flowers per plant.

Flower shape.--Oval.

Flower diameter.--About 5.4 cm.

Flower depth (height).--About 1 cm.

Petals.--Shape: Obcordate with emarginate apex and acute base. Quantity,arrangement: Five petals overlapping. Aspect: Flat. Length: About 3 cm.Width: About 2.5 cm. Texture: Smooth, satiny, glabrous. Margin: Entire.Color: When opening, upper surface: 56C; 40C central stripe and centralarea on upper petal; 54B base. When opening, lower surface: 39A. Fullyopened, upper surface: 75C; 52A central stripe and central area on upperpetal; 57C base. Fully opened, lower surface: 39A.

Peduncle.--Angle: Erect. Strength: Slender, but strong. Length: About 4cm. Color: 134B.

Flower bud.--Shape: Ovoid with spur. Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter:About 9 mm. Color: 39A.

Spur.--Shape: Needle-shaped, curved at end. Length: About 5.4 cm. Color:29A-29C.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Stamen number: 5. Anther shape: Oval.Anther size: About 4 mm. Anther color: 54C. Pollen color: 27C. Amount ofpollen: Abundant. Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 7.8 mm. Style color:131A. Ovary color: 131A.

Disease resistance: Resistance to pathogens common to New GuineaImpatiens has not been observed.

Seed development: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of New Guinea Impatiensplant named `Duepetrest`, as illustrated and described.